Systems and methods regarding point-of-recognition optimization of onsite user purchases at a physical location

• US 9,978,086 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2017
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Bartley J. Madden Foundation
• Original Assignee: The Bartley J. Madden Foundation
• Inventors: Madden, Bartley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rudy, Andrew Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/637,675
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 705 16, 705 261, 705 264, 705 2661
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0268 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0275 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for a point-of-recognition optimizer system configured to optimize onsite user purchases at a physical location. In various aspects, a purchasable-unit identifier (ID) may be received via a computer transmission, where the purchasable-unit ID, as identified by an optimizer device, is associated with a recognized purchasable-unit located onsite with the optimizer device. Based on the purchasable-unit ID, a plurality of competing purchasable-units may be identified, where the plurality of competing purchasable-units includes the recognized purchasable-unit and one or more additional purchasable-units, which may be either onsite or offsite purchasable-units. An offer is transmitted via a second computer transmission for an offered purchasable-unit to the optimizer device where the offer originates from an outbidding purchasable-unit distributor, and where the outbidding purchasable-unit distributor outbid other competing purchasable-unit distributors, each distributor corresponding to the plurality of competing purchasable-units, for an opportunity for the optimizer device to receive the offer.

Claims

1. A point-of-recognition optimizer system configured to optimize user purchases at a physical location, the point-of-recognition optimizer system comprising:

a computer memory operating to store instructions to optimize user purchases at the physical location; and

a processor operating to execute the instructions,

the processor and the computer memory comprising an optimizer server, the processor executing the instructions on the optimizer server to;

(a) receive at the optimizer server, via a computer transmission from an optimizer device associated with a user, a purchasable-unit identifier (ID) associated with a recognized purchasable-unit, the purchasable-unit ID identified by the optimizer device, wherein the recognized purchasable-unit is located onsite at the physical location with the optimizer device,

(b) determine a plurality of competing purchasable-units based on the purchasable-unit ID, the determination including the optimizer server sending the purchasable-unit ID to one or more distributor servers associated with a plurality of competing purchasable-unit distributors, and the optimizer server receiving one or more offers from the one or more distributor servers corresponding to the plurality of competing purchasable-units, wherein the plurality of competing purchasable-units includes the recognized purchasable-unit and one or more additional purchasable-units, the additional purchasable-units located either onsite at the physical location or offsite of the physical location, and

(c) transmit from the optimizer server, via a second computer transmission to the optimizer device, an offer for an offered purchasable-unit, the offer originating from the one or more distributor servers of an outbidding purchasable-unit distributor, the offer chosen from the one or more offers, wherein the one or more distributor servers of the outbidding purchasable-unit distributor outbid the one or more distributor servers of all other distributors from the plurality of competing purchasable-unit distributors for an opportunity of the optimizer device to receive the offer.

2. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 1, wherein the offered purchasable-unit is an offsite purchasable-unit that is not available at the physical location, and wherein the user purchases the offered purchasable-unit, via the optimizer device, for at least one of:

delivery of the offered purchasable-unit to an address specified by the user, or store pick up of the offered purchasable-unit after the user receives a notification of availability of the offered purchasable-unit.

3. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 2, wherein a price paid for the offered purchasable-unit is reduced when the user selects to pick up the offered purchasable-unit from a store.

4. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 1, wherein the optimizer device comprises one or more processors, the one or more processors of the optimizer device configured to:

detect that a chosen purchasable-unit has been associated with the user, the chosen purchasable-unit identified with a chosen purchasable-unit identifier (ID), wherein the chosen purchasable-unit is an onsite purchasable-unit;

initiate a purchase request, based on the chosen purchasable-unit ID, to purchase the chosen purchasable-unit when the user is within a proximity to an exit of the physical location; and

update a user-centric information profile associated with the user based on the purchase request.

5. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 4, wherein the chosen purchasable-unit is detected, via one or more sensors associated with a user container, when the user places the chosen purchasable-unit in the user container, wherein the user container is onsite at the physical location.

6. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 5, wherein the optimizer device is further configured to:

determine that an interference threshold value has been passed regarding the user'"'"'s interaction with the user container; and

generate, based on the interference threshold value, an alert, the alert indicating to onsite personnel at the physical location to assist the user.

7. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 4, wherein the outbidding purchasable-unit distributor accesses the user-centric information profile to generate the offer.

8. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 4, wherein the offer includes an offer value, and wherein the offer value is based on the user'"'"'s user-centric information.

9. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 4, wherein the optimizer device includes an optical unit, wherein the user-centric information profile is further updated with additional information sourced from the optical unit.

10. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 4, wherein the optimizer device includes a display unit and an input unit, wherein the display unit is operable to display the offer and the user-centric information to the user, and wherein the input unit is operable to receive login information for activating the optimizer device and user-centric information for further updating the user-centric information profile.

11. The point-of-recognition optimizer system of claim 4, wherein the chosen purchasable-unit is the offered purchasable-unit, and wherein the outbidding purchasable-unit distributor pays a distributor fee for the opportunity of the optimizer device to receive the offer.

12. A point-of-recognition optimizer method for optimizing user purchases at a physical location, the method comprising:

receiving at an optimizer server, via a computer transmission from an optimizer device associated with a user, a purchasable-unit identifier (ID) associated with a recognized purchasable-unit, the purchasable-unit ID identified by the optimizer device, wherein the recognized purchasable-unit is located onsite at the physical location with the optimizer device;

determining a plurality of competing purchasable-units based on the purchasable-unit ID, the determination including the optimizer server sending the purchasable-unit ID to one or more distributor servers associated with a plurality of competing purchasable-unit distributors, and the optimizer server receiving one or more offers from the one or more distributor servers corresponding to the plurality of competing purchasable-units, wherein the plurality of competing purchasable-units includes the recognized purchasable-unit and one or more additional purchasable-units, the additional purchasable-units located either onsite at the physical location or offsite of the physical location; and

transmitting from the optimizer server, via a second computer transmission to the optimizer device, an offer for an offered purchasable-unit, the offer originating from the one or more distributor servers of an outbidding purchasable-unit distributor, the offer chosen from the one or more offers, wherein the one or more distributor servers of the outbidding purchasable-unit distributor outbid the one or more distributor servers of all other distributors from the plurality of competing purchasable-unit distributors for an opportunity of the optimizer device to receive the offer.

13. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 12, wherein the optimizer device comprises one or more processors, the optimizer method further comprising:

detecting that a chosen purchasable-unit has been associated with the user, the chosen purchasable-unit identified with a chosen purchasable-unit identifier (ID);

initiating a purchase request, based on the chosen purchasable-unit identifier (ID), to purchase the chosen purchasable-unit when the user is within a proximity to an exit of the physical location; and

updating a user-centric information profile associated with the user based on the purchase request.

14. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 12, wherein the optimizer device is a mobile phone of the user.

15. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 12, wherein the offered purchasable-unit is different from the recognized purchasable-unit.

16. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 12, wherein the purchasable-unit has a plurality of surfaces, and wherein the purchasable-unit ID is identifiable to the optimizer device on each of the plurality of surfaces.

17. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of competing purchasable-unit distributors include one or more product manufacturers and one or more product wholesalers, wherein the recognized purchasable-unit is distributed by the one or more product manufacturers or by the one or more product wholesalers.

18. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of competing purchasable-units include a same type of purchasable-unit.

19. The point-of-recognition optimizer method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of competing purchasable-units include two or more purchasable-units of different types.

20. A point-of-recognition optimizer method for optimizing user purchases of offsite purchasable-units, the method comprising:

receiving at an optimizer server, via a computer transmission from an optimizer device associated with a user, a purchasable-unit identifier (ID) associated with a recognized purchasable-unit, the recognized purchasable-unit displayed on the optimizer device, and the recognized purchasable-unit available for purchase via the optimizer device;

determining a plurality of competing purchasable-units based on the purchasable-unit ID, the determination including the optimizer server sending the purchasable-unit ID to one or more distributor servers associated with a plurality of competing purchasable-unit distributors, and the optimizer server receiving one or more offers from the one or more distributor servers corresponding to the plurality of competing purchasable-units, wherein the plurality of competing purchasable-units includes the recognized purchasable-unit and one or more additional purchasable-units, and the competing purchasable-units located offsite from the user'"'"'s current location; and

transmitting from the optimizer server, via a second computer transmission to the optimizer device, an offer for an offered purchasable-unit, the offer originating from the one or more distributor servers of an outbidding purchasable-unit distributor, the offer chosen from the one or more offers, wherein the one or more distributor servers of the outbidding purchasable-unit distributor outbid the one or more distributor servers of all other distributors from the plurality of competing purchasable-unit distributors for an opportunity of the optimizer device to receive the offer.